Avenging Forresthill Rd

redline · Apr 1, 2008

Avenging Forresthill Rd
3/31/08 Cesar Chavez Day

Well, back in August, I took my R1 out for a ride through near Lake Tahoe to Donner Pass, Soda Springs Rd & Forresthill Rd. I didn't just go through the curvy paved part of Forresthill, nope, I went into the back country dirt roads!

Adventure Tour on my R1 Near Donner
Those roads kicked my butt!!

Today, I am determined to make up for the humiliation that those roads threw at me. I've come back prepared this time: today I will ride up those roads on my motard! I'm fully prepared with extra gas, gps, food, water & even duct tape. I even have a support vehicle in case I need repairs (neither the 'tard or my butt can take the 160+ miles of slab to get to Forresthill)

redline · Apr 1, 2008

I will throw roostertails at those rutted switchbacks. I would wheelie with impunity! Today I take vengence on Forresthill Rd!!

...err, or so I thought.

The first thing I notice after heading off with my trusty GPS directions is that I don't remember this exit! My GPS sent me off to Auburn. Who knew they had a Forresthill Rd there, too! Oh well, time to take some tourist pics.

redline · Apr 1, 2008

...fine, I'm not deterred by a little setback! I'm quickly back on my way and find the correct Forresthill up the road a few more miles. I make my way through the swoopy twists & turns that make this road the hwy 9 of the north. I go deeper into the forest towards the place where the pavement ends and the adventure begins! I'm almost there when, doh! What?!? You gotta be kidding me!!

“Damn you, Forresthill Rd!!” (shakes fist) Sigh.

redline · Apr 1, 2008

Forresthill rd is closed just before it turns to dirt. If a road can laugh at me, I know this road is laughing at me now. I scout around to see if it's really closed, or just closed to normal people. It's completely closed.

There's about 12” of snow on the road and it continues on as far as I can see. I can't even see the trail. I hike around a bit for alternative routes that might get me back on Forresthill, but there's nothing in sight.

redline · Apr 1, 2008

Well, Forresthill may have won this round, but I'm making my presence known. I've come to far to turn around. This whole area is national park land. There are tons of off road trails I can ride. I'll just go back down ¼ mile and take the first trail I find.

Hmm, first it was bad directions, road closure, now this? All OHV trails are closed until March! Aargh!! Closed for what?!? I can't believe it! I go to each trail & find them barricaded, fenced, and boulders blocking the entrance. They really don't want me in! Time for plan “b,” err, I mean, plan “c.” There have got to be other good roads that lead to dirt roads similar to Forresthill --and I'm going to find them!

On my way, I stop to take some pics at Sugar Pine Dam & Reservoir and nearby spots. The paved roads are nice & twisty –full of sand & gravel, too! Great for playing on the 'tard. I could see coming up here just for roads like these, but I know there's better out here...

redline · Apr 1, 2008

Viola! I soon find a “primitive” road! This is just what I was hoping for! I'm soon enjoying the semi-paved & really smooth “primitive” roads. The road goes up, down, tight turns, blind turns, it's got it all! The paving is really slippery, but it's sooo smooth! The views are great, too. I know it's a forest, but man, there are a lot of trees out here!

redline · Apr 1, 2008

Ah! Finally some dirt! I start taking every dirt road that is off of the paved road I'm on. I've got a GPS, but there are so many turns that it's easy to get all turned around. Some of these roads loop back on themselves & others go all the way back to hwy 80. I make a bunch of loops & take some pics.

I mentioned that the OHV trails are closed. I bet you think I “cheated” a bit on the dirt trails, hmm? Nope! The “primitive” road is criss crossed with lots of unpaved roads. Yes, despite the pictures, the bike never actually went “off road” today. Those are all roads according to my GPS & the roadsigns!

redline · Apr 1, 2008

The forestry people are busy at work. There are controlled burns going on and lots of cleanup. I didn't think you need to clean a forest, but apparently you do.

The pictures don't to it justice, but all over the place are huuge piles of trees & broken trees. I park my bike under some to try and show the perspective. Can you find the bike in all the photos? The piles are well over 20 feet tall and as wide as they have space for.

three28is · Apr 1, 2008

u, my friend, are a great story teller. u keep me gripped on the edge of my seat until i fall off laughing at your misfortune :rofl

keep the adventures and stories coming! :thumbup

redline · Apr 1, 2008

These roads are soo much easier on the 'tard than on the R1. The dirt roads on the motard are almost like highways compared to riding them on the R1. Soon, I find some challenging mud pits to cross. Most were a snap, but one was a lot deeper than it looked & tried to send me swimming! I made it through okay and upright -but pretty sideways! No style points on some of those crossings!

redline · Apr 1, 2008

I drive far into the forest, but stay on the dirt roads. I don't need to leave any trailmarkers for myself --I just look for the trash. Yep, that's a couch. There was trash dumped along many of the dirt roads. I don't think it was done by dirt bikers -pretty hard to strap a couch on your XR, right? Well, I rode all around until it got late. I rode pavement, dirt, mud, stream crossings, “primitive” roads and even some snow (that was futile)I packed up the bike & headed home.

Well, Forresthill may have won itself a few more weeks before I can claim victory on it, but this was a fun alternative.

That's all the pics & words I got. Hope you enjoyed them.

redline · Apr 1, 2008

three28is said:
u, my friend, are a great story teller. u keep me gripped on the edge of my seat until i fall off laughing at your misfortune keep the adventures and stories coming!

Thanks! I really thought I was gonna pwn that road today! Oh, well! :laughing

blrmaker · Apr 1, 2008

Next time you can pwn it! Great pics and story. :cool

JasonW · Apr 1, 2008

Be glad that the gate was there. There are miles and miles of paved road before you get back to dirt and it climbs a fair amount. The only way through there this time of year is with a snowmobile or maybe a heavily modified 4x4. Even if you could tackle that stretch back to Soda Springs in a 4x4, you wouldn't want to attempt it without a lot of recovery gear, several other vehicles and some emergency supplies. About 5 or so years ago, a couple of people tried to go through from the French Meadows side and got stuck in the snow. That turned in to a search and rescue effort. It was in the paper and I think they were ok, but it was a disaster. No, I wan't one of them. :shocker

There are TONS of goofy old roads in the area and it looks like you found a few fun ones. The 'tard would be a great bike for Iowa Hill Road, but it might still be snowed in. I haven't tried to go through there since last fall.

And if you really want to have some fun, the road to end all roads was on your right as you went in to Foresthill... :ride

Once the snow melts, you can take it all the way to Wentworth Springs.

Let the good times roll!

:twofinger

winter.

Karbon · Apr 1, 2008

this rules

hard.

com3 · Apr 1, 2008

dude, what the hell?!?! you were within 6 feet of the best road in CA and you rode right fucking by it?!?! what gives?!?!

and you shoulda emailed me or something, and i'da told you that the roads are all going to be closed up there until late may/early june. :laughing

anyhow, you know when you came through the town of foresthill you passed 2 gas stations? well, right after the 2nd one, there's a right turn...that's mosquito ridge road. the best road in cali. by far. by lots. sure, the way you went, iowa hill rd, is a lot of fun, but nothing like MRR...especially on a tard.

i know every inch of road and dirt you were on in these pics... there's much much better. lemme know next time!

Mortifer · Apr 1, 2008

Awesome stories and pics Vic!!!!!!!!!! :applause

Mike Dinger · Apr 1, 2008

Jeez Vic! Don't you work?

Great pics! Killer story! Lucky!

chiara · Apr 1, 2008

Great report. Thanks for sharing the pics. :thumbup

redline · Apr 1, 2008

JasonW said:
Be glad that the gate was there. There are miles and miles of paved road before you get back to dirt and it climbs a fair amount. The only way through there this time of year is with a snowmobile or maybe a heavily modified 4x4. Even if you could tackle that stretch back to Soda Springs in a 4x4, you wouldn't want to attempt it without a lot of recovery gear, several other vehicles and some emergency supplies. About 5 or so years ago, a couple of people tried to go through from the French Meadows side and got stuck in the snow. That turned in to a search and rescue effort. It was in the paper and I think they were ok, but it was a disaster. No, I wan't one of them.

There are TONS of goofy old roads in the area and it looks like you found a few fun ones. The 'tard would be a great bike for Iowa Hill Road, but it might still be snowed in. I haven't tried to go through there since last fall.

And if you really want to have some fun, the road to end all roads was on your right as you went in to Foresthill... Once the snow melts, you can take it all the way to Wentworth Springs.

Let the good times roll!

winter.

Wow! Now I don't feel so bad for lugging all that camping equipment with me on a 1 day ride! I even packed a shovel!

Snowmobiles! Yeah, the signs specifically said the road was closed to "all traffic: cars, ohv, 4x4 except snowmobiles." I was jealous! Then I learned that I can ride for exactly 1 foot in the snow before falling over. Even with the snowmobile, I'd be worried about driving right off a snow covered cliff.

Thanks for the tips on the roads! Wow, Iowa hill Rd is actually where the muddy pics are from! Glad I happened on a good road. Didn't know about the other roads, so thanks for the tip on Wentworth springs. I'll definitely add that as one of my adventures! :thumbup

Avenging Forresthill Rd

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